Snatch block



Feb. 5, 1952 Filed March 4, 1948 I Y I o. M. BERG 2,584,783

SNATCH BLOCK 2 SHEETS-SHEET l HI'TORNEY- O. M. BERG SNATCH BLOCK Feb. 5, 1952 2 SI-lEETS-SI1'EET 2 Filed March 4, 1948 g, Hwy;

Patented Feb. 5, 1952 ENT F F ICE" SNATCH BLOGK OJMagnusBerg; Houston, Tex.

Application Mar-ch i, 1948;Serial N 0; 12,990

1 Claim;

This invention relates to as'natch block.

An-object of the invention is to provide a snatch block' of the character 7 described whosedrame is of such construction that the cableemploye'd maybe readily appliedto; or removedfrom, the sheave or sheaves without threadingthe cable through the block.

It'is another object of theinvention to provide a snatch block of the character describedhaving a spindle'supported hook with sheave supporting side plates suspended therefrom with one of the side plates, adjacent a sheave, readily detachable fromthe corresponding end ofthe spindle so as to allow a loop. of the cable to be readily applied to; or removed from, the adjacent sheave.

The invention further embodies novel means forsecuring said"detachable*side'plate to the spindle, said'securingmeans being readily releasableto detach said said plate from the corresponding' end of the spindle.

O'therobjects and advantages will be apparent from the following specifications which is illustrated'by the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1' isa' side view, partly in section; of a single sheave 'type'of snatch block.

Figure 2 is an elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is'an"elevational view of a type of snatch block ienibodying two sheaves? Figure 4 is a side view thereof, partly in section, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, inside view of the upper end of a side plate'employed.

Referring now more'particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of' reference designate the same parts' in eachofthe figures, the numeral I designates a supporting hook having a-shanlclprovided with an annular shoulder 3 spaced from its free end."

The numeral 4 designates a transverse spindle having a vertical bearing 5 through which the shank Works.

There is a spacer ring 6 between the shoulder 3 and the spindle and which surrounds the shank.

Surrounding the free end of the shank and preferably countersunk into the spindle there is an annular spacer ring I which is welded to said shank.

The hook I may thus rotate on a vertical axis.

In the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 there are the side plates 8 and 9.

One end of the spindle 4 is reduced in diameter and fitted through an opening in the side plate 8 and externally threaded to receive a clamp nut 9a whereby the upper end of the 2 plate 8 1s secured to said reduced and offthe spindle 4.

The other end of the spindle 4 has anexternai annular groove l9 therear'ound thus formingan external annularflange II on' this end of the spindle. w

The upper end ofthe plate 9' has aninside, arcuate, dovetailed groove 12 therein whose inner end is semi-circular in shape and whose outer end extends to the marginof saidplate.

The" flange ll dovetailsinto-said groove I2.

The corresponding outer-end of the spindle is provided with a shallow circular recess i3 and'thefacing'side of the plate 9' is provided with a similar circular recess M which registers with the recess l3, when the 'sideplate!) is in active position.

'Thereis'a locking screw l5 which is threaded through the plate 9-and whose outerendis re: duced and blank and whose inner end is formed withanenlargedcircular head IG-which works inthe recesses l3 and M.

When the sc'rewi5 is screwed inwardly the headifi' will seat in the recess l3 so as to lock the'plate 9 against detachment from the'spindle ihllf when the screw I 5 is screwed outwardly until thehead'l'li' seats in the recess l4 said head willclear the end ofthe spindle 4 so that the upper end of theplate 9 may bernoved, or swung; laterally to release it from the spindle; the cor responding endofthe spindle passing through the groove I2.-

Between the'lower ends of the plate 8 and 9 there is a-conventional type of sheave I! which ismounted to rotate on aspindle l8 whose ends are reduced and extend through said plates and are outwardly threaded toreceive similar"secur-" ingnuts !9,"I9.

When the side plate 9 is releasedfrom the spindle Mas'hereinabove referred t6; said side plate will swing about the axis of the spindle I8 and the loop of a cable may then be readily applied to, or removed from, the sheave l1.

The spindle 4, even when locked against detachment from the plate 9, is still rotatable relative thereto.

Referring to the form shown in Figures 3 and 4, the numeral la designates the hook having a shank 2a which is mounted to swivel in the cross bar of a clevis 29 and is secured thereto by means similar to the means shown for securing the hook l to the spindle 4.

The arms of the clevis 20 have aligned, transverse, bearings 2|, 2| to receive the spindle 4a.

There are similar side plates 8a, 8a, and the ends of spindle 4a are formed with external annular grooves Illa, Illa thus forming external annular, end flanges Ila, Ila and said ends project out beyond the corresponding clevis arms and into inside, arcuate, dovetailed grooves 12a, |2a in said side plates. The inner ends of these grooves are arcuate in shape, as shown in Figure 3, and form bearings for the spindle ends, and the flanges I la dovetail into the corresponding grooves Illa.

The ends of the spindle 4a are provided with shallow circular recesses l3a, H11 and the facing sides of the plates 80, 8a, are provided with similar circular recesses Ma, Ma which register with recesses l3a when the side plates are in active position.

There are the locking screws l5a, l5a which are threaded through the plates 8a and whose outer ends are reduced and blank and whose inner ends are formed with enlarged circular heads lBa which work in the recesses [3a and Ma.

When the screws Ilia are screwed inwardly the corresponding heads [6a will seat in the recesses Ha so as to lock the plates 8a against detachment from the spindle 4a but when either screw 15a is screwed outwardly until its head l6a seats in the corresponding recess Ma. said head will clear the corresponding end of the spindle 4a so that the upper end of the corresponding plate 8a may be moved, or swun laterally to release it from the spindle, the corresponding end of the spindle passing through its groove in.

The spindle 4a, even when locked against detachment from the plates 8a, 8a, is still rotatable relative thereto. The sheaves are designated by the numerals Ila, Ila and they may be mounted to rotate on a suitable spindle l8a which passes through the side plates 8a and is secured in place by the end nuts [9a, (9a.

The sheaves Ila may be separated by means of a web, or plate 22 whose upper end has a bearing 23 on the spindle 4a and whose lower end has a bearing to receive the spindle [8a. When a side plate is released from its end of the spindle 4:1, as hereinabove referred to, said side plate will swing about the axis of the spindle |8a and the loop of a cable may then be readily applied to, or removed from, the corresponding sheave lla.

In order that a plate 8a may swing clear of the corresponding end of the spindle 4a, the groove 12a of said plate extends to the margin of said plate as shown in Figures 3 and 5.

Secured on the outer end of the screw l5 there is a grip member 24 and secured on the outer ends of the screws lEa, l5a are the grip members 24a. These grip members may be secured on their respective screws in any approved manner. As shown, they are pinned thereon. They 4 may be used in running the screws outwardly to inactive position or inwardly to active position.

As will be noted from an inspection of Figures 2 and 3 the lower ends of these grip members are extended downwardly thus forming weights which will prevent their rotation due to the vibration to which the block may be subjected and the inadvertent unscrewing of the corresponding screw to inactive position.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A snatch block comprising, a supporting hook having a shank spaced from the free end of said hook, a supporting spindle having a vertical bearing through which said shank rotates on a vertical axis, a pair of side plates suspended from the ends of said spindle, one end of said spindle having an external annular groove therearound to form an external annular flange, the corresponding side plate having an inside, dovetailed, groove formed therein, the inner end of same being semi-circular in shape and the outer end thereof extending to the margin of said plate, said groove being so formed so that the flange may dovetail into it, said spindle having an end recess concentric with the spindle axis and the facing side of said side plate being provided with a similar recess which registers with the recess in the spindle when said side plate is in active position, a retainer on the plate movable into the recess in the end of the spindle to retain said flange in said dovetailed groove in the corresponding side plate, said retainer being movable into inactive position to allow lateral movement of the plate and spindle to permit displacement of the spindle end from the groove, a grip member on the outer end of the retainer whereby it may be turned, said grip member having an extension forming a weight, and a sheave mounted to rotate between said plates.

0. MAGNUS BERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Numb 81' 

